Electric emergency-lighting installation



June 19, 1923. 1,459,283

P. DAS

ELECTRIC EMERGENCY LIGHTING INSTALLATION Filed Aux. 2, 1921 Patented June 19, 1923.

UNITED STATES rm'rnn DAS, or nnrr'r, nn'rnnnnanns.

ELECTRIC EMERGENCY-LIGHTING INSTALLATION.

Application filed August 2, 1921. Serial No. 489,212.

I '0 all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, Pmrnn DAS, subject of the Queen of Holland, residing at Delft, in the Province of South Holland, inthe Kingdom of the Netherlands, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Electric Emergency-Lighting Installations, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric-light installations having a separate emergencylighting, such as used. in theatres,c1nemas, railways, tram-cars, steamers, etc. In known installations of this class the current of a local batter or the like is supplied to the emergency amp or lamps over one of the arms of a bipolar switch, the other arm of which is in circuit with one or more lamps used for ordinary lighting which will hereinafter be referredto as control lamps, an energizing coil of a relay and the working tension of the installation. The armature of the said relay is in its released position across two contacts belonging to the circuit of the emergency lighting. Consequently, when the bipolar switch is closed-the controlamps will light up, the relay attracts its armature thus breaking the circuit for the emergency lamps, which remain dark. When for some reason the tension in the installation or part thereof falls below a certain point the relay drops its armature and the emergency lighting starts worklng.

The present invention has for its obJect to provide means whereby a forced control over the working condition of the emergency lighting is obtained each time the main installation is put into action.

According to my embodiment of this invention the bipolar switch is so designed that between its open and closed positions it must pass an intermediate position in which the emergency lamp or lamps, when in order, will light up whilst the control lamp or lamps will remain dark. 7

According to another embodiment of my invention I provide an iron core which under the action of its own weight, of a spring or any other suitable force will enter into 'a recess provided in the movable part of the bipolar switch when the latter passes or nears its intermediate position, the said core being withdrawn from the i said recess against the action of the said force through the action of a solenoid, laced in the circuit of the emergency-11g iting, as soon as the current in the said circuit attains a certain predetermined value.

A further embodiment of my invention which is especially adapted for use in alternating current installations, consists therein, that the control lamp or lamps and the emergency lamp or lamps are combined to one single lamp for low voltage, say 4 volts, the said lamp being normally fed from the mains across a transformer. When however the voltage in the mains sinks below a certain value so that the rela will drop its armature the lamp is fed with direct current from a battery, a condenser preventing the direct current from flowing through the secondarv of the said transformer.

In the accompanying drawings wherein an example of each of the said embodiments of my invention is illustrated;

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of one form of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of another form thereof, and,

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a further modified form of the invention,

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing 1 represents the main cables of a. group part of a lighting installation, controlled by a main switch 2. From these cables conductors are led to a bipolar plug contact 3, whence the current is supplied to a control lamp 5 and the coil 8 of a relay 9, these being connected up in series through one arm 6 of a bipolar switch, when the latter is closed. The armature 10 of the relay is movable in a vacuum tube 11, having in the bottom thereof two contacts 12, referably mercury contacts which are in the circuit with an emergency lamp 16, supplied with current from a local battery 13 through the other arm 15 of the bipolar switch, when the latter is closed.

The bipolar switch may occupy three different positions, a (1 b 6,, and c 0, respectively. In position c 0 the relay and the emergency circuit are broken and both lamps 5 and 16 are dark.

It will be evident that in this position the emergency lighting is inoperative.

In position b b the right arm of the switch finds a dead contact b and remains inactive, whilst the left arm closes the circuit 13, 16, 15, 12, 13, the contact I) being conductively connected with the contact a.

In position a a the right arm of the switch engages the contact (1,, thus closing till lie

the circuit 8, 5, 8, so that the lamp lights up and the relay 9 is energized to attract its ormoture thus breaking the circuit of the lump i fhen the tension on the coil 8 falls to zero or to a low value, either through occiclent or through the intentional opening of the group switch 2, the armature 10 of the relay drops bridges the contacts whereupon the emergency lamp 16 is lit up. The disturbance in the main. installation ii any, repeirecl, the emergency lamp is automatically cierkened by the energizing o the relay 9. It, on the other hand, the up of the lump 16 was merely due up; the switch 2, the bipolar switch ed to its initial position 0 0 until is desired to put the main installation in action egein, which is effected. by bringing the bi'ooler switch from position 0 c, to positions h (3 and a a successively, es clescribe above.

L position. h, of the bipolar swi ch the temp l6 cloes not light up this bill lllCllcute to the operator that the emergency 'ug is disturbed. and that it cennot be upon at fault in t he installation relies shoulcl occur. course the bipolar switch one. the temp 16 should be positioned in such it wey with relation to each other, that the operator of the bipolar switch has the ion 16 or a control "crop perellel thereto ri view, so that, when the switch is brou 1 position e, the lighting or not lighti up the lump 16 will not remain unnoticec,

'Ihe ciiegrern shown in igure 2 only clifters from thst shown in Figure l in thet o solenoid Iii is insertecl in the circuit of emergency lump The solenoid 1e sets on. "oose iron core 17, which under the sction of its own weight or 0:? e spring has at tendency to enter e recess 18 of the insulutecl cross-her 19 of the bipolar switch, when the soicl recess passes underneath the seicl core. The bipolor switch then occupies intermediote position 5 52 in which emergency linp it will up when eveaything is in. order. If so the snipers wind s of the solenoid 141- will be sufficient to wimirew the core 17 from the recess 38, whereupon the bipolar switch may be brought to its working position a a H on. the contrary no current or e current of insufiicient strength flows through the emergencycircuit and conse uently through the solenoid i l the letter Wlll leave its core 17 lLill/bifttCiD-Eil ancl the bipolar switch will re main locked in its intermediate positionb h 3 shows on errengeinent in which the control lamp or lumps entl the emergency lump or lamps ere combinecl into one single lump of low voltage, soy volts.

The orrongeinent is especielly for use in eiternsting current instell then normal voltage betwe may be reduced. by former, which in Figure 8 is inclicutecl 20, connected to two concluctors cl; .Ji;v contact one is connected acres 21 and coil 8 of the rele 9 to working contact a of the bipolar switch, the other conductor beingconnected. to the e iergency circuit at o point between. the solenoid l4- ancl the battery 13, A furtheressentiel clift'erence with formerly clescribetl arrangements is the foot ii; two contact levers encl 8 of the polar switch ere ccncluctively interconnect-eel.

in the position shown with the bipolar switch occupying rest-position c 0,, no current whatever vill pass and the lamp- 5 remains clerk. ien brought to the position 15 2),, 2i direct current posses from the buttery through the contacts l2, armature contacts a and 5, arm 15, conductor 22, lump 5, solenoid 141, back to the battery i he battery is suffiloeclecl the emergency circuits,

above, in order,

one, since "1 the meme 1e current ther e sufiicientiy strong in. order that the core 17 of the solenoid it will be withdrawn in the recess 18 ot' the 19, into which it neoi' previo sly tellen. The bipolar switch may then -:ought into its normal Working; position a lln this position. o ternziting' current (lei'lving run: the see lery of trensforiner 20 Will 1.. switch 3 through condenser $11, sole;v 8 of reluy 9, Contact o erm 6, solenoid back to plug switch The relay 3* is energized end breaks the emergency circuit i0, 12. lit will be understood, thetthe seconclery voltage of the transformer 20 must be substantially equal to the voltage of the battery 13, say for instance volts,

ll/ hen the voltage" the transformer falls to zero or approximately so, the erinoture 1O olro end the l o 5, ted by the battery up in order to prevent "v 13 from short c 'cuitecl in this posi "on by the secondary or the transformer 20, u condenser, such as :21, is insertecl st convenient place in he circuit which is exclusively destined for t -e olter noting cu rent.

l cleini is;

1. In an emergency lighting installation, a main circuit, on einer- 'ency circuit, circuit controlling means operating to close the emergency circuit advance of the closure of the main circuit, and means responsive to the electrical energizetion of the main circuit to eutometicully open the emergency circuit 2. in emergency lighting instelletion,

the bipolar switch is I Oil lUU

a main circuit, an emergency circuit, circuit controlling means operating to close the emergency circuit in advanceof the closure of the main circuit, and means responsive to the electrical energization of the main circuit to automatically open the emergency circuit, the last mentioned means forming part of the emergency circuit.

3. In an emergency installation, a main circuit, an emergency circuit, circuit controlling means operating to close the emergency circuit in advance of the closure of the main circuit, and means responsive to a predetermined degree of the electrical energization of the main circuit to automatically 0 en the emergency circuit, said means inclu ing an electromagnetic device and a displaceable armature associated therewith constituting part of the emergency'conducting circuit.

4. In an emergency lighting installation, a main circuit, a circuit control interposed in said main circuit, an emergency circuit, a circuit control in the emergency circuit, means connecting the first and second mentioned controlling means whereby the emergency circuit is closed in advance of the main circuit, and means responsive to a predetermined degree of electrical energization of the main circuit to automatically open the emergency circuit.

5. In an emergency lighting installation, a vmain circuit, a circuit control interposed in said main circuit, an emergency circuit, a

circuit control in the emergency circuit,

means connecting the first and second mentioned controlling means whereby the emergency circuit is closed in advance of the main circuit, means responsive to a predetermined degree of electrical energization of the main circuit to automatically open the emergency circuit, and means to lock cer-" tain of the circuit controlling means in circuit closing position.

6. In an emergency lighting installation, a main circuit, a circuit control interposed in said main circuit, anl emergency circuit, a circuit control in the emergency circuit, means connecting the first and second mentioned controlling means whereby the emergency circuit is closed ,in advance of the main circuit, means responsive to a predetermined degree. of electrical energization of the main circuit to automatically open the emergency circuit, means to lock certain of the circuit controlling meansjin circuit clos- 111 position, and electromagnetic means to refiease the locking means.

7'. In an emergency lighting installation, a main circuit, a circuit control interposed in said main circuit, an emergency circuit, a

circuit control in the emergency circuit,

means connecting the first and second mentioned controlling means whereby the emergency circuit is closed in advance of the main circuit, means responsive to a predeing toclose the emergency circuit in advance ot the closure of the main circuit, an electromagnetic locking means associated with-the switch and operating to lock the latter until the current of the emergency circuit attains a predetermined value.

9. In an emergency lighting installation, a main circuit, an emergency circuit, a bipolar switch associated with the main and emergency circuits, and electro-magnetic locking means associated with the bipolar switch and operating to lock the latter until the current of the emergency circuit attains a predetermined value.

10. In an emergency lighting installation, a feed circuit for alternating current, a transformer interposed in the main circuit, a main lighting circuit including the secondary winding of the transformer, .an emergency circuit, a bipolar switch'movable to a position intermediate its on and off positions and operating to close the emergency circuit in advance of the closure of the main circuit, and electro-magnetically controlled means operating to lockthe switch in a predetermined position until the current of the emergency circuit attains a predetermined strength.

11. In an emergency lighting installation, a main circuit, an emergency circuit, a bipolar switch movable to a position intermediate its on and off positions and operating to close the emergency circuit in advance of the closure of the main circuit, and electro-magnetic locking means to lock the bipolar switch in its intermediate position until the current of the emergency circuit attains a predetermined value.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

PIETER DAS. Witnesses:

ANTON on NAGTEGNAEZ, CHRISTIAN VAN TUGELEN. 

